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president's message

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana has been a trusted community resource for nearly a century. Our work is made possible because of unwavering support from people like you donors who believe in the power of change and who invest in the lives of individuals right here in our neighborhoods.

At Goodwill, we know that each person's experience is unique. That's why we offer personalized coaching to support individuals in reaching their full potential. Our coaches are there to walk alongside each person, helping them build a path towards independence and success.

From individuals facing mental health challenges to those seeking educational advancement or a better career, the impact of coaching is transformative. Goodwill coaches work closely with each participant, providing the encouragement, resources, and accountability needed to find stability and achieve long-term goals. They help create a safe space for growth, where each person can envision a better future and take concrete steps to make it a reality.

None of this would be possible without you. Your generous support enables Goodwill to continue offering coaching that empowers people to take charge of their lives. Thanks to you, we can be there for individuals when they need us most guiding them toward brighter futures and greater opportunities.

We invite you to read on in this issue of Achieve to learn more about the incredible work happening at Goodwill and the partners and donors who make it all possible. Together, we’re changing lives and building a stronger, more resilient community.

Thank you for being an essential part of this important work.

Gratefully,

Kent A. Kramer President and CEO | Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana President, Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana

The Goodwill Young Leaders Board invites you to

GATHER FOR GOODWILL: ALL STAR GAMES

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Delta Dental

Since 2024, Delta Dental has provided dental benefit support to Goodwill employees, and beginning in 2025, started to provide vision support as well. They also support Goodwill's mission by sponsoring Goodwill UNBOXED and providing volunteer opportunities for their employees. This past Fall, Delta Dental employees visited our Fountain Square retail store to serve alongside Goodwill associates and get a behind the scenes look at our retail operations and learn how donations turn into community impact. We are so proud to partner with Delta Dental. Thank you for your continued support of Goodwill and our mission!

Stories of

SU CCESS

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana supports over 10,000 people every day. Here are just a few of their stories.

MEET: Christina Melissa CJ

to homeownership From Homelessness

After living with an addiction for 13 years and repeated involvement with the criminal justice system, Christina Clevenger was ready to turn over a new leaf, but her past made it difficult. In 2018, her close friend and roommate told her that they found a fresh start at Goodwill after facing similar challenges. Christina decided to apply and was hired as a part-time textile producer and cashier.

Goodwill provided immediate opportunities for growth, but one year into her journey, Christina suffered a stroke and heart attack, requiring her to relearn basic skills like walking and talking. Despite these obstacles, Christina persevered, regaining her strength and eventually returning to work. She consistently demonstrated excellence, receiving several promotions over the past seven years.

Today, she is a Site Leader at her own store, where she oversees a staff of more than 30 employees. Working with people is her passion, and she thrives in an environment where she can build connections and help others grow.

“Goodwill helped me learn to be more patient and compassionate,” Christina said. “They also encouraged me to flex my leadership skills and see myself as a competent leader qualities I had never seen in myself before.”

Goodwill's support extended beyond Christina’s professional growth. While on house arrest, the organization accommodated her circumstances, providing stability when she needed it most. She also worked with Goodwill Mission Coaches, life and career coaches who helped her navigate financial challenges.

Now more than eight years sober, she reflects on how far she has come. Ten years ago, she was homeless, but recently, she purchased her own home.

From a recovering addict paving her way to a respected leader and mentor, Christina's story is a testament to resilience and the power of second chances.

For those considering a career with Goodwill, Christina is an enthusiastic advocate. She often speaks about the organization’s mission, its supportive environment, and the opportunities it provides for growth. For her, Goodwill is not just a job it’s a place where lives are rebuilt and potential is unlocked.

Finding support and success at The Excel Center

When Melissa Cotton left high school her senior year, it was after enduring years of bullying by her peers for a learning disability.

“I was picked on for being in special education classes and often got in trouble for defending myself,” Melissa admits. “My mom eventually signed me out of school.”

Two years ago, Melissa applied for a promotion at her job and was selected for an interview.

“I was excited to move up in the company, but when they asked to see my high school diploma, I quit out of embarrassment,” she said. “I was tired of going through that.”

Melissa had about half of the credits she needed to complete her high school education, so in 2022, she enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, to finish what she started. The school staff provided her with an amazing support system.

“My math teacher would come to class an hour early to help me with my work,” Melissa explained. “When I was having trouble taking notes and following along with the discussion, an Excel Center coach came in and took my notes so that I could give my full attention to the teacher.”

Melissa also received assistance from The Excel Center when she needed help with a utility bill, and sometimes she used the school’s onsite food pantry to supplement her groceries. In 2024, she proudly walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma and also graduated with a Home Health Aide certification.

“If it wasn’t for the staff at The Excel Center, I wouldn’t have graduated,” Melissa asserts. “They were patient and never gave up on me.”

Upon graduation, Melissa was connected with GoodwillNext, a program that offers Excel Center graduates personalized professional development coaching and covers the costs of earning an industryrecognized job certification in an in-demand field. Melissa is currently enrolled in a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course and is excited about her future.

“If I can do it, anyone can do it,” Melissa said.

Goodwill Grows MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES FOR PARENTS

Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) pairs first-time parents with registered nurses to ensure they have the resources and support they need during their child’s most developmentally critical years. This support includes connections to invaluable community resources that can assist with food access, employment, housing and mental health, an important aspect in a parent’s wellness.

For parents who need a greater level of support in their mental health journey, nurses can refer enrolled parents to the Goodwill NFP Mental Health Team. Composed of five full-time mental health clinicians, this team conducts one-on-one therapy with parents who are enrolled in Goodwill NFP. They’re a highly skilled team, with each member being trained in perinatal mood disorders and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

“We can work together so easily,” said Ashleigh Harmon, a nurse home visitor with Goodwill NFP. “Just being able to email, text or call the mental health team about a specific parent is super helpful! Staying in the loop ensures that we can get our families what they need.”

Ashleigh not only appreciates the team’s open communication, but also the effects the mental health care has on the families she works with and her role in their lives. The Goodwill NFP Mental Health Team provides assessments, consultations and education that can help nurses identify risk and help clients. Additionally, parents' access to the care they need means that Ashleigh can focus more of her time with them on child development, education and other goals they have.

“Learning coping skills and processing trauma just changes parents’ physical demeanor and how they interact with their children,” said Ashleigh.

CJ, one of the parents Ashleigh works with, has also been able to sense a change in herself.

“I live in a different state of mind,” said CJ. “My frustration, anxiety and stress aren’t even there anymore.”

CJ had negative experiences with mental health care providers in the past. However, as she began to work with the Goodwill Mental Health Team, she felt she could open up to her therapist almost immediately. She appreciates the expertise and passion that her therapist brings to her appointments.

“My therapist is the best one I’ve ever had,” said CJ. “I stay positive. Children mirror what they see. My child has to learn to smile and laugh through me.”

CJ has benefited from Goodwill NFP’s resource connections as well. Through Goodwill NFP, CJ was introduced to River Valley Resources and Choices Life Resource Center. These community partners have helped CJ pay for daycare and maintain employment.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I was so scared,” said CJ. “But because of Goodwill NFP and these programs, I’ve grown as a person. I want to be the adult I needed when I was a kid.”

CJ enjoys being able to spend time with and financially support her family. She has also worked with her therapist to continue working on her mental health after she graduates from Goodwill NFP.

“I want to continue doing what I’m doing and being who I am for my kids,” said CJ.

YOUR LEGACY

Your generosity is more than a gift it’s a lifeline that transforms lives, fuels hope, and strengthens our communities every day.

Through the sustained support of our giving society members, we are able to fund initiatives that directly help individuals and families move toward personal, educational, and vocational success. Your commitment, whether through sustaining monthly donations or thoughtful inclusion in your estate plans, ensures that Goodwill can continue to meet the evolving needs of our community for years to come.

In this issue of Achieve, we are excited to share the story of one of our wonderful donors who has made an ongoing commitment to Goodwill. Their dedication is a reminder of the profound difference one person’s commitment can make.

As we work toward expanding and enhancing the services that move people toward greater selfsufficiency, we invite you to consider joining this extraordinary group of donors. By becoming a member of our Legacy Club, you are helping to ensure that Goodwill’s mission will continue to grow and thrive for many years ahead.

Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in the power of change.

Rachel Cline Eble Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana

THE GW SOCIETY AND LEGACY CLUB LEVEL GIVING

The GW Society will be the third Legacy Club Giving Society — joining with the Dustman Society and the 1635 Society. Together, these giving societies represent our most generous supporters whose combined giving creates lasting impact.

GW SOCIETY: Recognizes donors that have provided a bequest or other deferred gift for Goodwill Foundation.

DUSTMAN SOCIETY:

Jack and Betsy Dustman both served as board members and were incredible ambassadors of the Goodwill mission. In their honor, this society recognizes those who help ensure Goodwill’s future with cumulative giving of $50,000+.

1635 SOCIETY: 1635 Society donors support current programs and services designed to help improve people’s lives through health, education and employment with gifts of $1,000+ to the current year’s Annual Fund.

Joshua Moore Donor Spotlight

Joshua Moore, a dedicated supporter of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and a part of our Legacy Club as a member of the 1635 Society, has a deep commitment to the organization’s mission.

As a former Goodwill Young Leaders Board member and 2022 Board President, Josh first connected with Goodwill through a former colleague, who introduced him to the organization’s expansive offerings beyond its well-known retail stores. After learning about Goodwill’s diverse and impactful programs from criminal record expungement to technology skill-building for older adults Joshua became a passionate advocate for its work.

For Josh, Goodwill’s mission resonates deeply because of its empowering impact on individuals. “Goodwill meets people where they are and provides resources so they can grow and ultimately thrive,” Josh said. His decision to regularly support Goodwill through a monthly donation is rooted in his belief in the importance of offering educational and professional opportunities to everyone. Josh is particularly proud of the organization’s work through The Excel Center® (Goodwill’s adult high schools) and Indianapolis Metropolitan (Indy Met) High School (Goodwill’s traditional-aged high school), which provide life-changing opportunities for Hoosiers.

Josh’s commitment to Goodwill has only strengthened over time, as he’s witnessed the organization’s growth and its recognition as a national model. For Josh, supporting Goodwill isn’t just about the mission it’s about being part of a community of passionate, like-minded individuals who believe in creating real, impactful change.

What makes Goodwill unique?

It has a wide variety of extremely impactful programs. As a Young Leader, I was fortunate to learn about and support programs that differed greatly but meant a lot to the people participating in them.

What made you decide to get involved in Goodwill Young Leaders?

I was looking for opportunities to get more involved in the Indianapolis nonprofit sector, and Goodwill’s mission appealed to me. I strongly believe in the importance of offering educational and professional opportunities for everyone, and Goodwill does exactly that. I loved learning about The Excel Center, Indy Met High School, and Goodwill Commercial Services because they provide opportunities to so many Hoosiers.

What are some of your proudest achievements from your time on the board?

This was a team effort, but I am very proud of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping board members engaged through many virtual meetings and creatively distanced activities. A lot of similar young professional groups became dormant during that time, and we persisted despite the challenges. The Young Leaders Board accomplished a lot for Goodwill during the pandemic and, after a hiatus of a couple of years, organized a very successful in-person “Gather for Goodwill” that has only grown since then.

Why do you choose to give to Goodwill?

Beyond my belief in the mission, I saw just how passionate Goodwill staff and leadership are about their work and about serving others. That makes me proud to be a donor.

Join Josh, a dedicated monthly donor, in becoming a part of the Legacy Club by becoming a member in one of our three Legacy Club Giving Societies the GW Society, Dustman Society and 1635 Society.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Join fellow business and community leaders from across central and southern Indiana for an evening of great food and entertainment that celebrates a compelling mission.

100% of proceeds from Goodwill: UNBOXED support life-changing programs at Goodwill. SPONSORSHIPS